More than 1/2 of NYC’s public school 3rd graders read below grade level.
The problem is even bigger in communities of concentrated poverty, where
one age-appropriate book exists for every 300 children. Caregivers in these communities lack resources to read to their kids on a regular basis.
Without a regular reading ritual, young children will enter kindergarten at a tremendous disadvantage and spend elementary school catching up.
Children who do not read proficiently by 3rd grade are
4x more likely to drop out of school.
Reach Out and Read is a research-driven intervention that provides children with books during pediatric checkups so that families can read to their children at home.
We partner with health care providers to put books in the hands of children, from birth to 5 years old, and literacy resources in the hands of caregivers.
We make reading aloud a routine part of well-child visits so that families make reading a routine at home.
We’re changing New York.
230 program sites in Greater New York
250,000 children served annually
3-6 mo. advantage in early vocabulary
6 million books for 1 million families since 1999
In the News
- April 2025 Newsletter
City’s First Readers is a collaboration of non-profit organizations across New York City that work together to promote literacy development for children birth through five years old. This month, they are hosting City’s First Readers Month – a collection of free events throughout the city… CLICK ON LINK TO READ MORE. - March 2025 NewsletterChampioning Early Relational Health & Literacy at Urban Health Plan: ROR GNY had the privilege of meeting Dr. Mohammad and Krupa Hart at Urban Health Plan in Bronx, NY, where their dedication to early relational health and early literacy is truly inspiring… CLICK ON LINK TO READ MORE!
- Reach Out and Read Site Feature: Putting Literacy “Front and Center” for Long Island Health Centers
Any of the pediatric waiting rooms at Harmony Healthcare Long Island could easily be mistaken for the children’s section at a local library. Literacy corners in each of the five… Read more: Reach Out and Read Site Feature: Putting Literacy “Front and Center” for Long Island Health Centers - Pediatrician in Harlem emphasizes reading to help kids stay healthy
By AMANDA D’AMBROSIO Crain’s New York Business “They are able – through books and libraries – to get out of that mindset and explore other cultures, ideas and experiences,” Ableman… Read more: Pediatrician in Harlem emphasizes reading to help kids stay healthy - Reach Out and Read GNY Rings the Opening Bell at the NY Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange welcomes Reach Out & Read to the podium to celebrate 25 years of bringing books and the joy of reading to children across New York… Read more: Reach Out and Read GNY Rings the Opening Bell at the NY Stock Exchange - Dr. Salcedo and Marty Martinez talk Early Literacy on Bronx Net
Kibin Alleyne is joined by Marty Martinez, CEO of Reach Out and Read; along with Dr. Vanessa Salcedo, Greater New York Clinician of Reach Out and Read at Union Community Health Center in the Bronx, to discuss how early literacy helps support healthy brain development.
See what people are saying…
“Studies of Reach Out and Read show that participating parents read more and children’s preschool vocabularies improve when parents read more.”
“It has doctors, actually has doctors distribute books, almost like prescribing reading for children.”
“A large body of research has shown that children who are exposed to books at a young age go on to do better on a wide variety of measures…”
“Dr. Mogilner and thousands of doctors throughout the city take literacy promotion one step further.”